Wisconsin, Like Many States, Sees Uptick In Distracted Driving Deaths By Kate Archer Kent, Originally Published on Wisconsin Public Radio News

Wisconsin has cut drunk driving deathsin half over a decade, but deaths due to distracted driving are on the rise. In Wisconsin, there were 113 deaths from distracted driving last year, a 10 percent increase over 2015’s 103 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Vehicle deaths across the United States haverisen for two straight years, marking the biggest increase in more than five decades. Distracted driving due to cell phones is considered one of the major causes in crashes.

Philadelphia attorney Joel Feldman crisscrosses the country speaking out against distracted driving. His 21-year-old daughter, Casey, was killed in 2009 by a driver who looked away from the road and ran a stop sign.

Until that day, I drove distracted. I would text. I would email. I would eat in the car. I’d read things in the car,” Feldman said. “It took me a little while, but one day it dawned on me that what this man who killed my daughter was doing was probably not as bad as all the things that I had done. That changed the way I drive for good.”

Feldman spends the bulk of his time talking to audiences —mostly teens —about how not to be distracted behind the wheel and how to talk with their parents about this risk of checking their phone while driving.

Teens are saying distracted driving is selfish, disrespectful and inconsiderate. They’re personalizing it. That’s the way you change behaviors. We have to make distracted driving socially unacceptable,” Feldman said, whose legal practice is solely focused on cases involving victims of distracted driving.

Feldman identifies three types of distractions for drivers: manual, visual and cognitive.

Manual relates to whether the driver is holding onto the steering wheel. Feldman admits he used to eat yogurt in the car and steer with his knees while holding the cup and spoon in each hand.

Visual relates to what the driver is looking at — either the road or the phone.

Cognitive relates to being distracted even though the driver is gripping the steering wheel and looking at the road. There are other distractions in the vehicle, such as a conversation with a passenger, giving a Bluetooth voice command or having a hands-free cell phone conversation preoccupying the driver’s thoughts.

Through Feldman’s organizationEnd Distracted Driving, he’s addressed more than 100,000 students and adults about distracted driving. He hears many excuses that often revolve around feeling invincible.

“Realistically, the bulk of us have driven distracted and many of us have driven distracted ‘successfully,’ meaning we haven’t been in a crash,” Feldman said. “We have that selective experience of saying, ‘OK, I probably shouldn’t do it, but it’s just a couple seconds. I’ve never been in a crash.’ So, that collective experience makes us feel insulated from it.”

Feldman has tips for families and employers on how to reign in distracted driving:

Empower teens to speak up when they see a parent or other adult driving distractedly. Currently, Feldman said, teens are the most unlikely group of people to speak up if they see a distracted driver.

Parents should lead by example. Feldman points to a study that found if a child grows up in a household with a parent who is a distracted driver, that child is almost twice as likely to make those same choices behind the wheel.

Families and employers can draw up safe driving agreements. For employers, the agreement sets a reasonable response time for answering text messages from supervisors.

If a driver is worried about putting their cell phone away during a half-hour commute, Feldman suggests pulling over to a safe location every 15 minutes to check and send messages.

Use an app to cut down on cell phone distractions. Feldman said he uses AT&T’s DriveMode app which silences incoming phone calls. But no major smartphone manufacturer has launched technology that forces users not to text while driving. The manufacturers of top smartphone operating systems, Google and Apple, have features that prevent texting while driving, but it’s all optional.

“I have peace of mind now when I drive that I’m not likely to kill someone else’s child,” Feldman said. “I don’t let anyone invade my time in the car with a call or text that would be an invitation to kill someone with my driving.”

What people are saying about the presentations:

“ No more phone out in the car for me. I told my kids they would not be seeing me using the phone in the car again. ”— Mary Zambri, Executive Director, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington D.C.

“Normally I start texting as soon as I get in my car after the game, but after the talk today, I am not texting when I get in my car and leaving the wrist band in my car as a reminder”— from a cheerleader at University High School, Baton Rouge LA.

“These presentations have been a wonderful combination of thought-provoking conversations, videos, student participation, and quality information sharing … On a personal note, every year after the presentation, I have walked away with a renewed passion for life, and for making incremental changes in the way I live and drive. I strongly recommend that schools and other organizations engage in this influential assembly.”— John Perella Headmaster, Medford High School, Medford, MA

“It was a fabulous presentation, well organized and certainly a most important topic that needs to be addressed in this fast moving technological world of ours. The girls thoroughly enjoyed hearing from all of the presenters and told me how much “it made them think”. One of the teachers told me yesterday that he thought it was the best assembly that we have had!” —Chris Kaiser, Dean of Students, Notre Dame Prep, Towson, MD

"I'm continuing to hear excellent feedback from both faculty and students. Many students are telling me that they really enjoyed the interaction, and that you're an alum. A lot of teachers are telling me that the message was right on point. I actually received two emails from teachers over the weekend that said they are now thinking twice when driving!" —Christopher Romero, Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA

“[Thank you to John McKiggan for speaking to ] our Grade 9 students. Your message of the awful consequences of distracted driving was heard by our students and staff. The videos really engaged them and made them think. The demonstration of a distracted driver and what students/passengers can say was perfect! Many students returned the sheets and I therefore know they had a conversation with their parents/guardians.”— J.W. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“ I presented to 450 sophomores at my alma mater, St. Xavier High School, in Cincinnati, the largest, all boys Jesuit high school in the US. It was a grand success and I had a wonderful time... the President and development director have already asked me back next year. The energy and feedback were incredible and powerful.”— Mark Kitrick. Esq Cincinnati, OH.

“ Prevention is ultimately the primary "cure" for the devastating injuries we see. This message has the potential to prevent many of the pediatric spinal cord injuries that happen in this country; this message needs to be delivered and acted upon. ”—Occupational Therapist, Shriner’s Hospital, Philadelphia.

“WOW! What a refreshing experience! Today is one of those days where you feel good about what you do and even better about what you have done knowing that you might just have saved a life. The kids were really excited and participation was excellent. One of the most rousing responses came when I fessed-up to being a distracted driver in my past. I made the confession in my opening remarks and it was smooth sailing from there. ”— George Boath, Esq. Stratford CT

“ I just presented to Nichols School's Upper School students and feel completely charged from the experience. The kids loved the message and the faculty couldn't have appreciated it more. It's great to volunteer with this incredible initiative.”—John Bair, Milestone Consulting, LLC, Buffalo, NY.

“ In a few days, I’m getting my license and I’m not going to be a distracted driver. My mom will text and drive a lot and it freaks me out. If something is that important, have the passenger text for you. ” —Gabby

“ I spoke at Andrew Jackson Senior High in Jacksonville, Florida. One young lady, watching the bus driver filling out papers and driving with his knees, said “My mama does that.” (Frankly, that surprised me.) She became my assistant, holding the microphone up to the AV equipment so it could be heard by everyone. The teachers stayed in the auditorium and were very pleased with the level of participation. ”—Wayne Hoganl, Esq, Jacksonville, FL

“ I spoke to several students about the role-play scenario you did on stage, and they all agreed they find it difficult to confront their parents about texting while driving. Thank you so much for bringing such a poignant issue to our community. I work with teenagers all day, so I know that decision making is often very difficult for them. Your compassionate and thoughtful presentation has changed behaviors. ” —Joel Dankoff, Student Council Advisor Friends' Central School, Wynnewood, PA

“ After the presentation a student came up to me and thanked me for coming to the school. He then shared that his parent had killed someone when driving distracted. He shared his feelings from the perspective of a young man who watched the aftermath of the tragedy his parent caused and indicated how that changed his parent’s driving behaviors and how that has affected this young man—who does not drive distracted now. ”— Chris Marzzacco, Esq. Harrisburg, PA

“ Went great! [Spoke to] sixty students from the alternative high school. Looking forward later this month when we hit all 5 of the area public and private high schools. The program is certain to change behaviors and the way that people look at distracted driving. We made a definite impact on our students, but I think we also got the attention of the teachers who saw the presentation. Thanks again for your help, and for putting this program together.”— Mike Williams, Esq. Fargo, ND

“ Young people often are reluctant to speak up because they do not have the words to do so. The role play scenarios empower young people by providing them with the tools to advocate for themselves when they are put in an unsafe situation such as driving with an individual who is distracted. ” — Mark Fifer, The Haverford School, Haverford, PA

“ I felt when the young drivers were sharing their own poor choices this was very helpful to the cause—the students were pretty attentive; participated and shared experiences; and were respectful. I wasn’t sure at first if they’d open up, but they did. I should add that the videos about Mr. Feldman’s daughter and the sister speaking of her text to her older sister at the time of a fatal wreck were powerful and made a true impact on the kids. ”—Tim Pickell, Esq Westwood, Kansas

“ The presentation made me realize that all those little things while driving make a big difference. When you are driving distracted you not only put your life at risk but everyone around you. I want to do something to stop these deaths and it has to start with myself. I’m going to make an effort to not let myself be distracted and to let others know too. ” — Morgan

“ Seeing the pink EndDD.org bracelets on my daughter’s (now 6&7 years old) tiny wrists was a surprisingly powerful reminder that it only takes a moment to change your life, and perhaps take someone else's. I would look into their eyes and very quickly think... there is simply nothing more important to me than these girls. No email, text, bite of a cheeseburger or any other momentary distraction compares to them - the comparison itself is beyond ridiculous, so why would I take such a risk. That was all it took. I put the cell phone down and stopped eating in the car, no more checking printed directions while driving, etc. I know that I am now a safer driver for these reasons. ” — Aaron Brown, Authentic 3d Summit, NJ

“ Yesterday after school my mom was texting while she was driving and I told her to put her phone away whenever the kids are in the car. And now this morning she left her phone at home when she was driving us to school. Thanks for saving lives! ” —Alfaro

“ I thought it was a really powerful assembly. She wasn’t there to yell at us, but rather spoke from experience about how terrible distracted driving can be. ” —Amanda Librizzi, Manasquan NJ

“ Young people understand, deeply, that cell phone us while driving needs to be "de-normalized" and even stigmatized. Young people want to be supported and encouraged in using their voices to "speakup" to others, including their parents, when they feel unsafe about distracted driving. They need information, support and encouragement from us to do this. ”—Scott Blumenshine, Esq. Chicago, IL

“ Getting into a car or bus with anyone who is not a concentrated driver is putting yourself at risk no matter how experienced the driver may be. And you should let the person know that you don’t feel safe and offer to text for them or ask them to put their phone, makeup, IPod anything that is the distraction away. It can happen to anyone. ” — Hanna

Students & Drivers So Far

400,000

EndDD.org’s Awareness Initiative has reached more than 400,000 in 45 states and several Canadian provinces.